Safety belt buckle



June 22, 1965 w. J. CRAVEN SAFETY BELT BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 25, 1963 m R W 0 R v W MW Du U m W ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 w. J.CRAVEN SAFETY BELT BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1963INVENTOR. WILBUR J. CRAVEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,189,966SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Wilbur J. Craven, East Hartford, Conn., assignor toThe Capewell Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Comm, a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,625 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-236)This invention relates to an improved safety belt buckle particularlysuitable for use in vehicles such as automobiles and airplanes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a safety beltbuckle having an improved construction which insures against accidentaldecoupling of the buckle components while at the same time permittingthe buckle components to be easily and quickly uncoupled as well ascoupled by the operator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in such a bucklea novel drive connection utilized in actuating a lock element which isemployed to hold the buckle components in a latched interrelationship.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such asafety belt buckle having an improved construction that may beeconomically manufactured in a compact size and will provide dependableservice over long periods of repeated and rugged use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a safety belt buckleconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view, with portions brokenaway, of the buckle of FIG. 1 showing the buckle components in coupledrelationship; and

FIG. 3 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 but showing the bucklecomponents in decoupled or released relationship.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a safety belt buckle generallydesignated 2 embodying the present invention is shown as basicallyincluding male and female coupling members 4, 6, respectively, adaptedto be coupled together to thereby connect their respective safety belts8 and 10.

In the illustrated embodiment the male member 4 comprises a generallyplanar tonguelike body including a forward portion 12 dimensioned to bereceived in the female member 6 and a rear portion 14 provided with aslot 16 for receiving the looped end of the belt 8 which may be stitchedat 18 to thereby connect the belt 8 to the male member 4. Between theforward and rearward portions 12, 14 of the male member 4, there areprovided a pair of apertures 20 forming a pair of transversely extendinglatching shoulders 22.

To facilitate insertion into female member 6 as well as to provideenchanced retention of the male member 4 therein, there is provided apair of laterally extending ears 24 on opposite sides of the male member4 at the rear portion 14 thereof as best shown in FIG. 1. Also, to thisend, the forward corners 13 of the male member 4 are rounded.

The female member 6 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a frame 7including a generally planar base 30 and a pair of upstanding side walls32 extending from the sides of the base as best shown in FIG. 1. Therear ward end of the frame is apertured and provided with an adjustablestrap connector generally designated 34 such as of the type shown inU.S. application Serial Number 3,139,955 Patented June 22, 1965 163,255entitled Adjustable Strap Connector and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention.

Generally at the forward end of the frame 7 there is provided a pair oftransversely extending latching shoulders 35 formed in the illustratedembodiment by upwardly bent portions of the base 30. The latchingshoulders 35 are positioned so as to co-operatively engage the latchingshoulders 22 of the male member 4 when the latter is inserted into thefemale member 6 to thereby couple or latch the buckle members 4, 6together as shown in FIG. 2.

The forward portions 36 of the side walls 32 are dimensioned to extendbeyond the forward edge of the base 30 so that when the members 4, 6 arecoupled together the side wall portions 36 will overlie the laterallyextending ears 24 of the male member 4 as shown in FIG. 2 for purposeshereinafter more fully described.

In order to lock the members 4, 6 in latched relationship, there isprovided -a lock element generally designated 40 comprising atransversely extending crossbar 41 and a pair of cams projectinggenerally perpendicularly from the ends of the crossbar 41. The lockelement 40 is mounted for pivotal movement on the frame 7 by means of apivot pin 42 received in apertures 52 formed in the cams 5t? and havingits opposite ends journalled in pin-receiving holes 44 provided in theside walls 32 of the frame.

The cams 50 of the lock element 40 are dimensioned so that when the lockelement is in a lowermost or locking position and the members 4, 6 arelatched as shown in FIG. 2, the lower peripheral surfaces 51 of the cams50 will engage the sides of the forward portions 12 of male member 4 tothereby hold the male member 4 against the base 30 of the frame so as tolock the members 4, 6 in their latched relationship. The male memberengaging surfaces 51 of the earns 50 are formed fiat so as to providetransverse edges thereon engageable with the male member 4 to therebyresist accidental pivotal movement of the lock element 40. The sameeffect may be accomplished by forming the cams 50 so that theirperipheral surfaces adjacent to the male member engaging surfaces (atthe left side thereof as viewed in the drawings) are at a slightlygreater distance from the pivot 42 than the male member engagingsurfaces.

An operating lever generally designated is provided for actuating thelock element 40 to unlocking position wherein the members 4, 6 are freeto be uncoupled, the operating lever 60 in the illustrated embodimentcomprising a top wall 62, a pair of side walls 64 and an end wall 66.The operating lever 60 is mounted for pivotal movement on the frame 7 bymeans of a pivot pin 68 received in apertures 72 in the side walls 64 ofthe lever 60 and having its ends journalled in holes provided in theside walls 32 of the frame at points longitudinally spaced from themounting holes 44 of the pivot pin 42. The top wall 62 of the operatinglever 60 covers the central and forward portions of the frame 7excluding the strap connector 34, and with the free end of the lever 60positioned generally above the forward edge of the frame 7, while theside walls 64 of the lever 60 are positioned adjacent the locking earns50 on the outer sides thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment there is provided a cover for the strapconnector 34, the cover 90 serving to protect the strap connector 34against accidental movement while at the same time enhancing theappearance of the buckle member 6. The cover 90 is mounted to the frame7 for pivotal movement between a closed position wherein it overlies andconceals the strap connector 34 and an open position wherein it exposesthe strap connector 34 to permit adjustment thereof. In the shownembodiment the cover 30 is mounted by means of a pair of arms 92provided thereon and pivotally received on the pin 68. A suitable catch94 is provided on the rear end of the cover 90 to cooperate with therear end of the 3 frame 7 to thereby releasably hold the cover 9a inclosed position. i

A generally U-shaped torsion spring 74 is provided for biasing thelocking element 40 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the drawings)into locking position and for biasing the operating lever 60 in acounterclockwise direction into closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The

. spring 74 is mounted on the pivot pin 42 with the legs 7 6 of thespring engaging the crossbar 41 of the element 40 and with the oppositeleg'portions 78 of the spring engaging the end wall 66 of the operatinglever as as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a novel means isprovided for transmitting the movement of .the operating lever 60 to thelock element 40 to pivot the same into unlocking position, which meansin the illustrated embodiment comprises a pair of laterally outwardlyextending tabs 54 provided on the cams 50 of the lock element 40 anddimensioned to be respectively received in a pair of elongated apertures80 provided in the side walls 64 of the operating lever 60.

Referring to FIG. 3, the edges of the apertures 81) provide cam surfacesat 82 adapted to engage the tabs 54 to pivot the lock element 40 in acounterclockwise direction into unlocking position for releasing themembers 4, 6 for decoupling when the operating lever 60 is pivoted inthe clockwise direction towards open position. The tabs 54 and the camsurfaces 82 are formed and arranged so that the effective lever armavailable for pivoting the locking element 40 from a closed position ofthe operating lever 60 (shown in FIG. 2) is less than the effectivelever arm available for pivoting the locking element 40 from anintermediate position of the operating lever 60 with the result that agreater force is required to initially pivot the operating lever fromclosed position.

In use, when it is desired to couple the buckle members 4, 6, the malemember4 is inserted into the forward end of the female member wherebythe male member 4 will engage the cams 50 of the lock element 4%) topivot 'the same in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of thespring 74 to thereby permit the latching shoulders '22, 35 to beinterengaged as shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the cams 50 of the lockingelement 40 will return under the bias of the spring 74 to engage the topsurface of the male member 4 to lock the male member 4 against the base30 of the frame in latched position.

When the buckle members 4, '6 are in latched relationship shown in FIG.2, the male member 4 is not only locked at the forward end 12 thereof bythe cams 50 but additionally, upward movement (as viewed in thedrawings) of the rear portion 14 of the male member 4, such as caused bythe conformance of the belts 8, to the body of the user, is limited bythe forward portions 36 of the frame s de walls 32 which overly the ears24 of the male member to engage the same as best shown in FIG. 2.

It will be seen that this restraint of the male member 4 in the femalemember 6 when they are in latched relationship, together with the flatsurface engagement of the male member 4 by the cam surfaces 51 and theforce required to initially pivot the operating lever 60 (as a result ofthe effective lever arm of the cam surfaces 82), will combine toeffectively insure against accidental unlocking of the maleiand femalemembers 4, 6 such as might be occasioned by inertia eifects orotherwise. It will beappreciated that cams 50 and the cam surfaces .82may be designed as desired so as to require at least a preselectedamount of force for pivoting the operating lever 60 to open position fora given load thereon.

When it is desired to decouple the members 4, 6, the

.operator is merely required to pivot the operating lever 60 in aclockwise direction (as viewed in the drawings) which not only moves thecams 50 to unlocking position to release the bt Qldc members 4, 6, butfurther causes the members 4, 6 to move relative to each other wherebythe latching shoulders 22, 34 are disengaged and the buckle members 4, 6separated. This decoupling of the buckle members 4, 6 and their removalfrom around the operator may be easily and quickly effected with onehand and in one natural motion because of the relative arrangementbetween the parts of the buckle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesan improved buckle, the component members of which may be constructedwith a reduced longitudinal dimension to thereby provide a compact andeconomical buckle structure without sacrificing the strength oroperability thereof.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of thestructure above de scribed will become-readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the'invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a safety belt buckle formed of sheet metal a female couplingmember including a base and a pair of upstanding-side walls extendingfrom the base dimensioned to receive a male coupling member between theside walls and overlying said base, said base having at least onelatching shoulder formed thereon adapted'to cooperate with a latchingshoulder on the male coupling member for latching the male and femalecoupling members together, a transversely extending lock elementpivotally mounted between said side walls above said base and havingdownwardly depending portions at the ends thereof providing cam surfacesfor engaging the male coupling member for locking the members in latchedrelationship, a pivotally mounted operating lever having downwardlydepending side walls nested with said lock element between the sidewalls of the female coupling member and pivotable about a pointlongitudinally spaced from the pivot of the lock element, spring meansbiasing the lock element and operating lever in opposite angulardirections towards the base, means interconnecting the lock element andthe operating lever including a laterally extending tab on at least oneof the downwardly depending portions of the lock element and an aperturein the adjacent side wall of the operating lever receiving said tab andforming a cam surface dimensioned to engage I said tab to pivot saidlock element in one angular direction .to an unlocking position awayfrom the base when said operating lever is pivoted in an oppositeangular direction to an open position.

2. A safety belt buckle formed of sheet metal comprising a generallyplanar male coupling member having at least one latching shoulder, afemale coupling member comprising a frame including a base and a pair ofupstanding side walls extending from the base dimensioned to receive themale coupling member on the base between the side walls, at least onelatching shoulder formed on the base adjacent one end thereof engageablewith the latching shoulder on the male coupling member forinterconnecting the members, a transversely extending lock elementmounted between said side walls for pivotal movement between locking andunlocking positions and having a pair of cams at the opposite endsthereof positioned to overly and engage the male member to hold the sameagainst the base of the female member in latched relationship and to bepivoted away from the base by the male member upon insertion into thefemale memher through one end of the base, a pivotally mounted operatinglever mounted between said side walls at a point longitudinally spacedfrom the pivot of thelock element towards the other end of the base forpivotal movement between open and closed positions, the latchingshoulder on said male member being longitudinally positioned betweensaid one end of the base and the point of engagement of said pair ofcams with said male member, said operating lever having a top walldimensioned to cover the lock element and the latching shoulders on thebase and having a pair of side walls nested between the cams of the lockelement and the upstanding side walls of the frame, a spring engagingthe lock element and the operating lever and biasing the lock elementand operating lever in opposite angular directions towards the base intolocking and closed positions respectively, said cams of the lock elementhaving a pair of laterally extending tabs, said side Walls of theoperating lever each having apertures receiving said tabs and formingcam surfaces configured to engage the tabs to pivot the lock elementaway from the base to unlocking position when the operating lever ispivoted in the opposite angular direction into open position.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS3/08 Germany.

1. IN A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE FORMED OF SHEET METAL A FEMALE COUPLINGMEMBER INCLUDING A BASE AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING SIDE WALL EXTENDINGFROM THE BASE DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE A MALE COUPLING MEMBER BETWEEN THESIDE WALLS AND OVERLYING SAID BASE, SAID BASE HAVING AT LEAST ONELATCHING SHOULDER FORMED THEREON ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH A LATCHINGSHOULDER ON THE MALE COUPLING MEMBER FOR LATCHING THE MALE AND FEMALECOUPLING MEMBERS TOGETHER, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING LOCK ELEMENTPIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS ABOVE SAID BASE AND HAVINGDOWNWARDLY DEPENDING PORTIONS AT THE ENDS THEREOF PROVIDING CAM SURFACESFOR ENGAGING THE MALE COUPLING MEMBER FOR LOCKING THE MEMBERS IN LATCHEDRELATIONSHIP, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED OPERATING LEVER HAVING DOWNWARDLYDEPENDING SIDE WALLS NESTED WITH SAID LOCK ELEMENT BETWEEN THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FEMALE COUPLING MEMBER AND PIVOTABLE ABOUT A POINTLONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM THE PIVOT OF LOCK ELEMENT, SPRING MEANSBIASING THE LOCK ELEMENT AND OPERATING LEVER IN OPPOSITE ANGULARDIRECTIONS TOWARDS THE BASE, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE LOCK ELEMENT ANDTHE OPERATING LEVER INCLUDING A LATERALLY EXTENDING TAB ON AT LEAST ONEOF THE DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING PORTIONS OF THE LOCK ELEMENT AND AN APERTUREIN THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL OF THE OPERATING LEVER RECEIVING SAID TAB ANDFORMING A CAM SURFACE DIMENSIONED TO ENGAGE SAID TAB TO PIVOT SAID LOCKELEMENT IN ONE ANGULAR DIRECTION TO AN UNLOCKING POSITION AWAY FROM THEBASE WHEN SAID OPERATING LEVER IS PIVOTED IN AN OPPOSITE ANGULARDIRECTION TO AN OPEN POSITION.